Safety-hook.



PATENTED SEPT. 27, 1904.

0. H. TERRY.

SAFETY HOOK.

.APPLIGATION FILED JAN.12, 1904.

N0 MODEL.

IN VENTOH CharlesH. Terry. 5 3 BY A TTOHNE Y WI TNE SSE S I under a sideor lateral strain to swing to one UNITED" STATES Patented September 27,1904.

PATENT OEEIcE.

SAFETY-HOOK.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 770,943, datedSeptember 27, 1904;,

Application filed January 12, 1904.

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES H. TERRY, a citizen of the United States,residing at Bristol, Hartford county, Connecticut, have invented certainnew and useful Improvements in Safety-Hooks, of which the following is aclear, full, and exact description.

My invention relates to an improvement in safety-hooks by this termmeaning a hook so constructed that its opening is closed, so as toprevent its disengagement from whatever it is attached.

the hook is free to swing.

The object of my invention is to improve and simplify the constructionof such devices.

y invention will be defined in the claims annexed to this specification.

In the drawings accompanying herewith, which show a preferredconstruction of my invention, Figure 1 represents my device in itsoperative position or locked; and Fig. 2 represents the same device inunlocked position, one side plate of the frame being removed.

My device comprises a frame or case member or members, to which ispivoted a hook, and a third locking member, which is also designed forthe attachment of a chain or other securing device. The frame member andhook are pivoted together and so shaped with reference to each otherthat in the normal position, or the position which would naturally beassumed when a direct strain was placed upon the device, the framecloses the opening of the hook, thus preventing the possibility ofdisengagement from whatever the hook is engaged with and yet permittingthe hook side (when unlocked) in such manner as to clear the point ofthe hook and permit removal or insertion of a link or other device. Inthe normal position that is, the position occupied when the parts areunder a direct strainthe locking member engages the hook in such manneras to prevent lateral swinging thereof, and yet when swung to one sideit will free the hook, so as to permit its being also swung to one side.

The following is a description of the preferred construction hereinshown.

The frame or casing member, as herein Serial No. 188,686. (No model.)

shown, consists of two plates 1, between which is placed the base of thehook 2, these parts being secured together by a pin 9, upon which Theframe part has a wing-like constuction 8, extending outward over thehook and laterally, of such size and shape as to close the openingof thehook when the latter is in the normal position. Between the two membersof the frame is also placed the locking member 3, which is secured by apivot-pin 15 and has an end projecting beyond the frame and providedwith an opening 4., adapted for the attachment of a chain 16 or anyother holding or hook-retaining device. The adjacent surfaces of thehook 2 and the locking member 3 are normally in contact and are made ofcircular shape, having their centers in the pivot-pin 15, the hook beingprovided with an outwardly-concaved segmental surface 10, while thecorresponding surface of the locking member 3 is convex and fitstherein. This will permit free turning of the locking member, whilepreventing turning of the hook.

In order to prevent swinging 0f the locking member too far in onedirection or to prevent the hook being swung in the wrong direction, astop may be provided-such, for instance, as the peripheral projection 6on the locking member-which is adapted to engage with a corner of thehook. On the opposite side of the locking member is formed a peripheralrecess 7, preferably located on the same side of the median line as a:as the hook-opening and adapted when the locking member is swung in onedirection to receive the point 11 of the hook, and thus permit the hookto be swung to one side, so as to free its point from the frame. Thehook may also be provided with a toe or projection 12, adapted to engagethe outer surface of the enlarged circular portion 5 of the lockingmember, thus limiting the extent of swing of the hook.

In the locked position of the parts, as shown in Fig. 1, it is obviouslyimpossible for the link 14 to be freed from the hook, while in theposition of the parts as shown in Fig. 2 this link may be readilyinserted or removed. It is impossible in the embodiment shown to swingthe hook to one side unless the locking ing from the spirit of myinvention.

member 3 is first swung to the same side of the median line as the hookis swung to open it, and this position would only be assumed by theparts when a pull in the same direction upon both parts is broughtthereon. This condition can only occur designedly or by bending thedevice sharply over some object, and under this last condition theobject over which the device is bent will lie in the opening of the hookif it should be swung to the open position, as shown by the dottedobject 17 in Fig. 2, and will itself stop the opening and preventremoval of the link 1 A direct strain placed upon the locking member 3or the hook 2 will tend to throw the parts into locked position. Thewhole device is of a simple and cheap construction, besides beingeflicient in its operation.

It is evident that the construction herein shown may be varied andmodified in such way as to materially change its appearance without,however, changing the essential principles employed, and thereforeWithout depart- I therefore do not wish to be limited to the exactconstruction herein shown.

What I claim is- 1. A safety-hook comprising a frame or case, a hookpivoted thereto and in its normal position closed by said frame and alsoadapted to swing to clear its opening, and a hook-locking member pivotedto said frame and normally engaging the hook to prevent its turning, andadapted, by swinging upon its pivot, to free said hook and permit itsturning into the open position.

2. A safety-hook comprising aframe, ahook pivoted thereto and in itsnormal position closed by said frame and also adapted to swing to clearits opening, and an attaching member pivoted to said frame and normallyengaging the hook to prevent its turning, and adapted, by swinging uponits pivot, to free said hook and permit its turning into the openposition.

3. A safety-hook comprising a frame, ahook pivoted thereto and in itsnormal position closed by said frame and also adapted to swing to clearits opening, the pivot end of said hook having a concaved segmentalsurface, and a locking member pivoted to said frame and normallyengaging said concave surface of the hook by a corresponding convexsurface and provided with a peripheral recess whereby, when turned, thehook is free so that it may be turned upon its pivot.

4. Asafety-hook comprisingaframe, ahook pivoted thereto and in itsnormal position closed by said frame and adapted to swing to clear itsopening, said hook having a concaved segmental surface, and a lockingmember pivoted to the frame and having a segmental surface fitting saidsegmental surface upon the hook, said locking member having a stoplimiting its swing in one direction and a peripheral recess adapted,when swung in position, to permit the hook swinging upon its pivot.

5. A safety-hook comprising a frame, ahook pivoted thereto and in itsnormal position closed by said frame, and also adapted to swing to clearits opening, said hook having a concaved segmental surface, an attachingmember pivoted to the same and having a corresponding convexed surfaceadapted to engage the said surface of the hook and also havingaperipheral recess adapted, when swung in position, to permitswinging ofthe hook, said attaching member having a projection beyond said frameadapted for securement to ahookretaining means.

6. A safety-hook comprising aframe, ahook and a locking member thereforboth pivoted to the frame, said frame being adapted to close thehook-opening when the hook is under a direct strain, the locking memberbeing adapted for attachment of the chain or equivalent holding devicethereto and, when under direct strain, engaging the hook to prevent itsswinging into the open position, said locking member being adapted toswing under a side strain to free the hook and the hook being adaptedwhen freed to swing under a side strain into open position.

7. A. safety-hook comprising a frame consisting of two opposed plates, ahook pivotally secured between said plates, said plates extending toclose said hook in its normal position but clearing the hook when thelatter is swung to one side, and a locking member pivoted between saidframe-plates, said locking member and hook having respectively convexand concave contacting surfaces, the locking member also having a recessadapted, when 7 swung into position, to free the hook and permit itsturning.

8. A safety-hook comprising a frame consisting of two opposed plates, ahook pivotally secured between said plates, said plates extending toclose said hook in its normal position but clearing the hook when thelatter is swung to one side, and a locking member pivoted between saidframe-plates, said locking member and hook having respectively convexand concave contacting surfaces, the locking member also having a recessadapted, when swung into position, to free the hook and permit itsturning, and also provided with means for securement thereto of anotherobject.

Signed at New York, N. Y., this 11th day of January, 1904:.

CHARLES H. TERRY.

Witnesses:

EMERSON R. NEWELL, HENRY L. REYNOLDS.

